CAR MARKET ZAPPED

ZAP! is at least as interesting for what it is into as for what it is doing. Around since 1994, it is into energy efficient gas systems, hydrogen, electric, fuel cell, ethanol, hybrid and almost any other innovative power system anybody can think of.

Detroit Electric, ZAP’s joint venture with Chinese bus and truck manufacturer Youngman Automotive Group, is developing (with Lotus Engineering ) a freeway capable electric vehicle called the ZAP Alias. Collaborating with Advanced Battery Technologies, ZAP is developing a new generation of vehicles using advanced nanotech batteries. And ZAP recently began a partnership with the Al Yousuf Group of Dubai to expand international distribution.

ZAP’s new partner in the distribution of conversion kits to turn gas electric vehicles into plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) is Hybrids Plus, a leader in the making and installing conversion kits. But Hybrids Plus is doing something much more interesting. It is about to help deploy, in conjunction with an as-yet-unnamed major utility, the first V2G fleet in the world.

V2G (vehicle to grid) technology allows battery energy stored in an electric vehicle (EV) or PHEV to be fed into as well as drawn out of the electrical grid. The idea is expected to revolutionize the electrical grid by providing an enormous distributed source of power storage, allowing utilities to smooth out variations in demand and supply. V2G technology is also expected to facilitate widespread use of wind and solar energy by eliminating the problem of intermittency.

Meanwhile, Shai Agassi’s ambitious Project Better Place is moving forward. Agassi wants to capture the EV charging station market. His idea is to focus on small densely populated areas and build stations where a battery-swap will send an EV running low on charge quickly off with a replacement, leaving its depleted battery behind for recharging. Israel will be his first market. He is going to build a chain of such stations, like gas stations, to serve the market folks like ZAP! are creating.

ZAP! has been building a line of electric vehicles and expertise for 14 years and keeps expanding. (click to enlarge)

ZAP Launches Sale of Plug-In Hybrid Electric Car, Tests Show Up to 120 Miles per Gallon
Alex Campbell, March 10, 2008 (Marklet Wire via CNNMoney)
and
Electric car venture picks 2 Israeli cos; Project Better Place Israel CEO Moshe Kapliski: Hundreds of recharging stations are planned for 2009
Shira Horesh, 9 March 2008 (Globes)
and
Electric car venture gains momentum
Amir Ben-Artzi, March 13, 2008 (EE Times Europe)

WHO
ZAP! (Zero Air Pollution) Vehicle Company (Steve Schneider, CEO); Hybirds Plus, Inc. (Carl Lawrence, CEO); Project Better Place (Shai Agassi, Founder, CEO); Israel Corp.; Aran Research and Development Ltd. and Nekuda DM Ltd.

WHAT
- ZAP! is now offering among its wide variety of electric transportation products conversion kits to turn the gas electric hybrid Toyota Prius and the gas electric hybrid Ford Escape into plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs).
- Aran Research and Development Ltd. and Nekuda DM Ltd. will develop and install electric vehicle battery exchange/recharging stations in Israel to further the ambitions of Project Better Place.

Hybrids Plus focuses on doing one thing, conversions, right. (click to enlarge)

WHEN
- Conversion kit delivery within 4 weeks of the order.
- ZAP! has been building and selling electric powered vehicles from scooters and bikes to cars since 1994.
- Agassi expects to begin opening hundreds of battery exchange/recharging stations in 2009 and be in full operation by 2011.

WHERE
- Hybrids Plus is based in Boulder, CO. ZAP! is based in Santa Rosa, CA.
- ZAP! has sold 100,000 vehicles in 75 countries.
- Project Better Place is kicking off its business model in Israel and will then move to New York City.

WHY
- Tests of the conversion kits find improved improve city gas mileage to 120 mpg and highway mileage to 90 mpg.
- Conversion cost: $24,000 to $36,000, depending on vehicle and battery pack size.
- After the conversion, the car can be charged from any household wall outlet.
- Project Better Place estimates it will eventually build 500,000 battery exchange/recharging stations.

This video explains the Project Better Place battery exchange/recharging station concept.

QUOTES
- Carl Lawrence, CEO, Hybrids Plus: "This is a natural extension of our growth plans…ZAP has sold more city speed electric vehicles than any other company and has an established, growing dealer network that can provide sales and service for our vehicles."
- Steve Schneider, CEO, ZAP!: "This collaboration allows more hybrid owners to have the most efficient vehicles on the road today…ZAP dealers are preparing to offer a new level of service in the coming years involving mass-market hybrid and electric cars from Detroit Electric, so experience with plug-in hybrids can accelerate this process."